After the Shao family's meeting, Old Madam Shao made a phone call to Shao Zheng Gang.
At that time, Shao Zheng Gang was at home reading the newspaper.
After his nephew Shao Jun had barged into his home the previous day, moved all the things the old residence had given him a few days prior without a word, and even uttered such heartless remarks, his feelings towards those relatives had considerably faded.
He was old, and useless.
No one was willing to look at him properly, and his relatives were no exception.
He should have accepted reality long ago.
However, he hadn't expected Old Madam Shao to call.
Upon answering, before Shao Zheng Gang could speak, the Madam's displeased questioning rained down upon him!
"Second child, how did you raise Shao Xu!"
Hearing this groundless accusation, Shao Zheng Gang was first somewhat stunned, then his heart turned cold.
He had thought his mother was calling to explain Shao Jun's actions yesterday, but unexpectedly, this call was to blame him!
"Mom, I don't understand what you mean," Shao Zheng Gang's tone had also become much colder.
Old Madam Shao didn't notice the change in her second son's attitude. Determined to seek justice for her wronged eldest grandson, she said coldly, "Don't play dumb with me! Today Shao Xu hired someone to beat Xiao Jun and humiliated me, his grandmother. Tell me, is this proper?"
"Xiao Xu beat Xiao Jun? Mom, how is that possible?!"
Shao Zheng Gang asked, confused, even finding it absurd. He knew his daughter's temperament well; how could she be someone who beat people without reason or insulted elders?
Old Madam Shao had personally seen Shao Jun's injuries. Hearing Shao Zheng Gang's reaction, she immediately concluded he was protecting her, and her anger intensified.
"Are you implying I'm fabricating things? Shao Jun went to your house yesterday to move things, right?"
She asked coldly.
When Shao Zheng Gang heard her mention this, and she showed no intention of explaining, he responded with a deep "Yes."
"Last night, after I found out, I reprimanded Xiao Jun, telling him to apologize to Xiao Xu today and mend their fences. But I didn't expect your daughter to be so stubborn! Not only did she refuse his apology, but she also hired someone to beat Xiao Jun and insult me, his grandmother!" Old Madam Shao said angrily. "Even if Xiao Jun did something wrong beforehand? Was it necessary to beat him? And beat him so badly?! Even if she changed her surname, she's still of Shao family blood. Now, she hires someone to beat her own cousin, beating him within an inch of his life, just to get back some gifts! Is your family lacking that little bit?"
Her words became increasingly harsh and merciless.
Shao Zheng Gang's expression grew increasingly unpleasant. Even facing his own mother, he felt immense humiliation.
Would his mother speak like this to the eldest or third son?
Was she treating him with such cold indifference and harshness simply because he was no longer useful?
Was he to be summoned and dismissed at will?
"Please stop. We are indeed not lacking that little bit, and I also ask Mother not to send any more things to our home in the future, to avoid the trouble of back and forth!"
Shao Zheng Gang said coldly, "Shao Jun got beaten, and you come to blame my daughter. As a grandmother, without knowing the truth and believing only one side of the story, how can you have the right to accuse us afterwards with such partiality?"
"Have the right...?"
Always accustomed to Shao Zheng Gang's obedient demeanor, his current reaction instantly enraged Old Madam Shao.
She said indignantly, "Is that how you speak to your mother?! You have truly disappointed me!"
"Haven't I already disappointed you?"
Shao Zheng Gang replied calmly.
Old Madam Shao trembled with anger and abruptly hung up the phone, "Rebellious! Utterly rebellious!"
Shao Zheng Gang, looking at the hung-up phone, seemed to have expected it. He calmed his emotions and called Su Ding. He still needed to understand this matter clearly.
The call was connected quickly.
"Are you busy? Xiao Xu," Shao Zheng Gang asked gently.
"I'm alright. Is something wrong?" Su Ding was busy at the shop, listening to the phone casually.
"Did Shao Jun go to your company today?"
Su Ding hummed, "What's wrong?"
Shao Zheng Gang paused and probed, "Shao Jun came back today saying he went to find you, and you hired someone to beat him and cursed your grandmother..."
"Beat him? Curse Grandma?" Su Ding frowned incredulously, then laughed in anger, "What are you talking about?"
Sensing the implication in his words, Shao Zheng Gang immediately asked, "Is he lying about these things?"
He naturally believed his daughter wouldn't beat Shao Jun.
Even if she did, it would have to be because Shao Jun had done something utterly intolerable.
"What do you think? That mouth of his can twist black into white. He's idle all day. Believing him means you've got a screw loose," Su Ding said, somewhat speechlessly.
Shao Jun was almost thirty, yet he complained like a child arguing. Moreover, he was making things up; it was truly tedious.
Shao Zheng Gang now had a clearer understanding and his impression of the Shao family worsened.
"Mm, I understand. Xiao Xu, you carry on with your work."
After hanging up, Shao Zheng Gang didn't immediately argue with the Shao family.
Having lived to his age, he knew that when the other party doesn't trust you, any argument you present will be considered nonsensical.
Meanwhile, Old Madam Shao was also infuriated by Shao Zheng Gang.
She leaned back on the sofa, her aged face still showing residual anger, and said to Shao Zheng Chang beside her, "Eldest son, it seems we can no longer count on Shao Xu. Now Zheng Gang is also not on our side."
"Mom, we actually don't need to interact with the eldest branch's family at all anymore," Shao Zheng Chang said with a smile. "Tomorrow, I'll go to Oya Group to discuss a project. This is a sure thing. As for Shao Xu, you've heard from Xiao Jun that Jin Ye already has a new love, and he treats Shao Xu like a discarded shoe. She has completely fallen out of favor. Shao Xu's only use is for the resources of Mrs. Jin, Zhao Qin."
"As you said, we only need to leverage Shao Xu's relationship as a relative to connect with Mrs. Jin. Once we get the benefits, even if Shao Xu finds out later, she won't be able to reveal the truth of family discord to Mrs. Jin."
Hearing Shao Zheng Chang's words, Old Madam Shao's heart did relax somewhat. However, being as shrewd and experienced as she was, her keen insight told her that any matter should retain a fallback.
But thinking of the eldest branch's attitude, she also felt some annoyance.
"Mm, then I'll wait for your contract with Oya tomorrow. Also, how much longer will it take to repair the jade bracelet?"
Old Madam Shao touched the bracelet and asked slowly.
Shao Zheng Chang quickly replied, "About three or four more days. I'll go urge them again."
After that farce ended, Old Madam Shao had instructed him to send the jade bracelet fragments to the repair shop, to mend it as best as possible, after all, it was a jade bracelet worth millions.
"Mm, get it repaired as soon as possible. I want to wear it to meet Mrs. Jin and seek some benefits for our Shao Corporation," Old Madam Shao narrowed her eyes and said slowly.
She was determined to use Shao Xu to try and climb the high branch of the Jin family!